Two public schools in the Hunter region have been highlighted for outstanding student achievement following the release of the latest national standardised test data.
Belmont Public School's Consistent Success Story
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara) published the new NAPLAN data on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Among the standout performers was Belmont Public School, where principal Jodie Corrigan reported a third consecutive year of students exceeding expectations in fundamental skills.
Ms Corrigan emphasised that the school's most significant achievement was the progress made by students from equity groups. Teachers have successfully narrowed the learning gap for pupils from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds. "That is our aim," Ms Corrigan told the Newcastle Herald. "We want all of our students to be performing at the best of their ability and for no student to be disadvantaged in any way."
She credited the school's teaching staff for their focused approach on core literacy and numeracy, ensuring each child understands the learning goals. "The kids know what they are learning and why they are learning it," she explained, noting the use of effective questioning and regular checkpoints to gauge understanding.
National Trends and Student Progress Data
This data release is particularly notable as it follows the 2023 reset of the national testing metric. It marks the first availability of long-term trend analysis under the new system. Stephen Gniel, CEO of Acara, stated that the return of student progress information allows for a fairer celebration of improvement, taking into account each school's individual context.
Acara confirmed that the latest national results show stability, with approximately two in three students demonstrating strong or exceeding proficiency in reading, writing, and numeracy. Around one in ten students were identified as needing additional support.
In a positive ancillary finding, Acara also reported an uptick in student attendance. The national attendance rate reached 88.8 per cent, while the proportion of students in years 1-10 attending 90 per cent or more of the time rose to 62.1 per cent.
A Focus on Equity and Core Skills
Belmont Public School's success is underscored by its demographic profile. Acara's data shows the school, with 255 students, has a higher-than-average representation of students from backgrounds of socio-educational disadvantage. Approximately 18 per cent of students are from Indigenous backgrounds, and about 7 per cent speak a language other than English at home.
Ms Corrigan said the school's bedrock is a relentless focus on essential life skills. "We have a strong focus on making sure the kids have the skills they need in reading, writing and maths because they are the skills they need in life," she affirmed.
The school fosters a powerful culture of self-belief. "When you ask them 'What are Belmont kids?' they say they're the best," Ms Corrigan shared. "Because that is what we tell them. They can do anything and they believe in themselves as learners."
Cessnock Public School was also recognised as a top-performing institution in the latest NAPLAN results. The school was approached for comment at the time of the original report.
Parents seeking detailed information on their child's school can access the full dataset via the Acara 'MySchool' website.
